COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBMICROSCOPIC CHANGES OF THYMUS PARENCHYMA AND ILIAC LYMPH NODES IN LONG-TERM OPIOID EFFECTS

Abstract

Summary. Drug addiction is an important medical and social problem that affects the quality, duration, condition and health of a person. However, drugs are used not only by drug addicts, these drugs are widely used in medical practice, so the study of their effects on the human body is of great importance.

The aim of the study – to learn and compare submicroscopic changes of lymphocytes in the thymus and iliac lymph nodes with long-term effects on the body of rats nalbuphine.

Materials and Methods. A model of physical opioid dependence was created on 52 outbred white male rats according to patent No. 76564 U "Method for modeling physical opioid dependence in rats". Animals were divided into 8 groups, each with 5 animals, which were daily injected intravenously with nalbuphine according to the scheme: group 1 – 5 intact rats, groups 2–7, in which rats were administered the drug (1st week – 8 mg/kg, 2nd week – 15 mg/kg, 3rd week – 20 mg/kg, 4th week –  25 mg/kg, 5th week – 30 mg/kg, 6th week – 35 mg/kg), group 8 – drug withdrawal, control – 12 rats. Iliac lymph nodes and thymus were removed weekly by anesthesia of rats by intraperitoneal anesthesia with sodium thiopental – 25 mg/kg. Sections were made on a UMTP-6M ultramicrotome using a diamond knife (DIATOM) and double-contrast with Reynolds and uranyl acetate was performed. Sections were examined on a TEM-100 electron transmission microscope and photo-documented using a SONY-H9 digital camera.

Results. Six-week administration of the drug leads to severe destructive-degenerative changes in the parenchyma of both the thymus and iliac lymph nodes. Most lymphocytes in the parenchyma of both organs have pyknotically altered nuclei, the contours of the nuclear envelope are blurred, in places it is damaged, the nucleus is dominated by condensed chromatin; in some places deep intussusception of the nuclear envelope leads to fragmentation of the nucleus and the formation of osmophilic fragments. Often occur in cells in a state of apoptosis. Intercellular spaces in both organs are expanded, perivascular hypostasis is noted. Withdrawal of nalbuphine does not lead to cell regeneration in the studied organs.

Conclusions. Six-week administration of the drug causes profound destructive-degenerative changes in thymic lymphocytes and iliac lymph nodes, indicating the decompensatory processes in the studied organs.